Which adjective would you like? Crystalline, cerulean, ethereal, azure, radiant, or perhaps simply breathtaking. The daylight skies of northwest Crete are all these, metamorphosing at sunset into a radiant evening palette of gilded and flaming skies, with Nature’s finale horizon green flash as a show-stopping climax to the mesmerising performance. And for your absolute pleasure is the evening’s denouement – the tranquil ink-black sky’s epilogue switching on the millions of glittering Milky Way stars and constellations – guaranteed to take your breath away.

And where better to experience this beautiful and unparalleled natural theatre than the spectacular and serene beauty of Crete’s northwest coast – called Chanià (say Han-ee-AH), a Prefecture or Nomos – a land oozing with sizzling sun, scrumptious food, spectacular history and ancient myths – and everything topped off with the most friendly of island people – the Cretans living on the largest of the Greek islands, but having the most distinct cultural identity.

After that tantalising introduction to Chanià, you know you must experience this wonderful part of Crete (say Cree-tee like the locals).

However, your standards are high, and you require 100% luxury accommodation, so where in Crete’s northwest can you tick every one of your high-expectation boxes?

Oh, that is easy – the only place to indulge in the kaleidoscope of the island’s wonder is at the magnificent 5-star deluxe Giannoulis Cavo Spada Luxury Sports and Leisure Resort or their nearby magnificent self-catering Ele Villas – a glorious establishment covering 65,000 square metres of private property that combines a very agreeable Mediterranean ambience with sophisticated style.

When you arrive at magnificent Cavo Spada, you are guaranteed a warm smile from the reception staff, who will treat you as though you belong to an extended family of friends – and this is genuine warmth and friendship; the open rapport shown by the Cretans is legendary and part of their ancient lineage.

You can be there in no time by hopping over to Crete from Heathrow in just over 4 hours, Charles de Gaulle in 3, J F K in 8 to 9 hours or Stockholm’s Arlanda Airport in 4. After arriving at Chanià’s International Airport, there is a 40-minute ride to Cavo Spada. Alternatively, if your first port of call is the idyllic and sublime walled Venetian old town of Chanià, it is a 25-minute drive to your hotel of rest and sport.

The Northern Road Axis of Crete (BOAK), a major new highway project, is currently under construction, adding a significant artery across the island, beginning at Kissamos in the west and extending to Sitia in the east. This new road will enhance the economy of Crete by efficiently transporting visitors around the island, thereby benefiting local service and manufacturing industries.

Whether you indulge yourselves by staying in one of the hotel’s 150 luxury accommodation rooms, some of which have their own semi-private pool, or go your way in the two exclusive Ele villas, your daily vista will be the mesmerising views across the striking Gulf of Chanià and Cape Spada. For lovely warm temperatures, visit Chanià and Cavo Spada between the end of May and the beginning of October – you won’t be disappointed.

And the biggest bonus of Chanià’s coastline, besides its natural beauty and dazzling, azure-clear skies, is the absence of obtrusive and repetitive high- rise hotel blocks polluting the skyline of the idyllic Kolpos Chanion Bay and the Akrotiri Peninsula. Your hotel is only two storeys high, except for the impressive reception and lounge area, with roof timbers designed to resemble an upside-down traditional boat hull from days gone by – it is quite something!

There are five highly successful Giannoulis Group paradise hotels with direct access to beaches across Crete, with each catering to every cosmopolitan traveller’s lifestyle. There are four in the Prefecture of Chanià – the Santa Marina Beach Hotel, located in Agia Marina; the Santa Marina Plaza, an adults-only hotel in Agia Marina; the Grand Bay Beach Resort, another adults-only resort in Kolymbari and of course the pièce de resistance of hotels, The Cavo Spada Luxury Sports and Leisure Resort. The fifth is the Almyra Hotel & Village, located in Koutsounari, near Ierapetra, in the Lasithi Prefecture of Crete.

Manolis Giannoulis

The history behind the fascinating success story of the Giannoulis hotels revolves around the dynamic, scholarly and affable Manolis Giannoulis, the CEO and driving force behind the Group’s tremendous achievements. As the former President of the Chanià Hotels Association for 14 years and having been awarded and named Honorary President, Manolis is at the forefront of ensuring that the region’s tourists have access to the highest standards of accommodation and services. Showing complete confidence in the future of its business and in adding to the tourist resources of the Prefecture, the Giannoulis Hotel Group has engaged Stylianidis Architects to design a new luxury hotel in Chanià, Kissamos.

Speaking with Manolis at Cavo Spada, he described how his father was instrumental in instilling in him an acute business acumen that has served him well, enabling the continued and flourishing expansion of the hotel group.

Before the hotel business began at Agia Marina during the 1980s, with the establishment of the Santa Marina Beach Resort, Manolis’ father’s core business on Crete was olive oil extraction and exporting the high-quality product to Italy.

During the holidays, Manolis worked with his father in the family business before returning to London to obtain a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in Shipping, Trade and Finance – a combination of relevant commercial knowledge and practical business experience absorbed from his father which would underpin the expansion of his hotels in the future.

Manolis described how his obligatory 21months of military service in the Greek navy established his virtues of discipline, hard work and honing the ability to communicate with all levels of society – the qualities that enabled him to expand the export business to many other countries, including the US, England and Australia – with Manolis always making contact with new distributors providing personal service and networking relationships.

The Cavo Spada Resort was born amid the 2008 global financial crisis. Like other hotels in Crete, it weathered the troubles that beset the Greek banks and economy, including a disastrous 25% reduction in essential revenue from tourist traRic. Even after businesses began to recover, the tourism industry was severely impacted by the devastating COVID-19 outbreak, which started in the country on February 26, 2020. By March 23, 2020, Greece’s government imposed a nationwide restriction on non-essential movement.

Now, the tide has changed, with super-encouraging tourist numbers enjoying the many delights of Crete and the Group’s hotels.

Manolis stressed that the uppermost philosophy of the well-loved CEO is to have the majority of his hotels’ food and drink supplied by local producers and to know and visit each of them as their businesses have grown with the Group’s. Businesses such as those located on the Seven Villages route, including Galatas, Koufos, Manoliopoulo, Agia, Babiolos, Alikianos and Ano Gerani – a part of Chanià enveloped in the gorgeous scent of fragrant orange groves, seasonal fruit farms and landscapes covered with olive groves – a landscape rich in agricultural history and local traditions. Manolis stressed the importance of diversifying the scope of tourists’ holidays by engaging with Chanià’s landscape and century-old traditions. He cited Agritourism as an example, offering fascinating experiences for travellers that combine with nature and local culture.

So, when in Chanià, try your hand at olive pressing, milking a goat and even helping with cheese production. And if you love olive oil and wine, consider becoming a taster of both – you will be welcomed by the rural communities, set against stunning landscapes and a cerulean-blue sky.

Manolis has stamped his character on each hotel by choosing high-calibre and remarkably talented managers who expect high standards, not only from their workforce but from everything available to clients. The managers carry out their daily duties with a significant degree of autonomy, yet they have immediate access to and receive helpful guidance from their Group CEO.

The cogs of each Giannoulis hotel are well-oiled, with a strong track record of a loyal core of indigenous and foreign team members. The Cavo Spada is a brilliant example of this, boasting ninety employees, 85 per cent of whom are Cretans from the locality, together with a strong contingent from Ukraine. The workforce is visibly happy, content and possesses a strong work ethic – all of which translates into ensuring a wonderful stay for hotel guests.

The positive mantra of the whole Cavo Spada hotel is ably instilled into the workplace by the hotel’s undeniably unique manager.

Argirios Kantaras

Please meet Argirios Kantaras, the effervescent and dynamic overseer of Cavo Spada for the last seven years. He is a larger-than-life character and a well-loved example of how a luxury hotel manager should be – not only known for his devotion to his work colleagues but also for ensuring his guests want for nothing. He is colloquially known to his clients as Mr Silver (Argirios, meaning silver) and adored, treasured, and respected by everyone.

Chatting over coffee with Argirios, he explained how his current position evolved from his beginnings in the high-powered airline business before he transitioned to the hotel industry at the Santa Helena Beach Hotel in Platanias. His appointment as hotel manager of Cavo Spada in 2019 became a dream fulfilled, and now it is his daily passion.

Mr Silver works his management magic on the Cavo Spada’s loyal crew of employees and satisfied guests, instilling a calm, cheery, and friendly atmosphere, along with a complete willingness to listen to every request and accommodate any special room or dietary requirements. All 150 rooms are spotlessly clean, thanks to efficient staff who will greet you with a cheery “Kalimera” (Good morning) when you head for an unforgettable breakfast. Each room is spacious, with larger ones available for families, including four that cater to guests with severe mobility issues.

Each day, Argirios tours each sector of the hotel to stay in touch with guests and his crew, ensuring his working knowledge of what has happened and is happening remains fresh in his work schedule. His door is always open to everyone for a significant part of the day.

Facilities and Services

Have you ever been to a hotel with a lake-sized swimming pool? Well, that is what you will see and experience at Cavo Spada – a magnificent sight to behold, all 1700 square metres of glorious water, inviting you to dip your toes, swim in or exercise off your meals. When you see the lagoon-style pool, especially lit in the evening, it is easy to imagine it as a James Bond film set with its elegant curvaceous walkways leading to the pool bar cabin – a place to seduce your senses, to savour your cocktails, to relax, and to unwind – perfection above a pool of light.

Turn right from under the entrance, and you will find the main bar, which is open from 6:00 pm until 1:00 am. It is bursting with an abundant array of spirits, liqueurs, cocktails, beers, and soft drinks, which applies to the pool bar, too (you will always want to take a swim). At both bars of pleasure, your drinks will be prepared for you by knowledgeable, friendly and pin-sharp, efficient staff. Take your drinks out to the extensive outside terrace overlooking the main pool and enjoy the setting sun and ‘green flash’. Turn the other way and hear the excellent evening music provided by the hotel – you will find it hard not to lose your inhibitions and dance the night away.

All the wide-ranging, indulgent facilities of Giannoulis Cavo Spada are open to both hotel guests and self-catering clients. In addition to a multitude of facilities and services available to guests, there is a mini club, a luxury-filled boutique, two energetic tennis courts, and the most beneficial for your senses and body – the Cavo Spada Wellness and Spa.

Wellness and Spa Suite

When you enter the calming and tranquil atmosphere of the Cavo Spada Wellness and Spa suite, your mind and body are guaranteed to immediately relax and feel at ease during a personal treatment, massage, or facial. The hotel’s spacious and immaculate centre provides exceptional service, employing professional personnel who use high-quality Anne Semonin products – a top luxury wellness brand based in Paris. Cavo Spada is proud to project extremely high standards and expertise behind every luxury spa experience, ensuring that guests receive an unforgettable, refined wellness session.

Rejuvenation of each guest’s mind and body is the mantra of Cavo Spada, blending modern interior design, state-of-the-art technology, and holistic journeys and wellness therapies. Treatments use the finest natural ingredients to address skin ageing and facilitate deep cleansing, hydration, revitalisation, and balancing remedies. And the goal of the Cavo Spada Wellness and Spa? To ensure that each hotel guest not only leaves feeling renewed and recharged but also experiences inner peace within their mind and body, and has a radiant and glowing appearance.

Indoor Swimming Pool and Jacuzzi

The warmth and peaceful ambience of the aqua- and emerald-coloured indoor heated swimming pool is inviting and comforting as you enter it from the adjacent Wellness and Spa suite. Stepping down into the 28°C to 30°C heated water is a soothing experience, multiplying your overall wellness for the day’s activities ahead. Let your body be invigorated by a stimulating hydro massage lying in comfort on contemporary contoured stainless steel loungers – a Jacuzzi tonic for your tired muscles after, perhaps, an active exercise class in the main lagoon pool.

Turkish Bath & Sauna

Fancy relaxing your tired muscles and detoxifying your mind and soul in a therapeutic, stress-relieving hot environment?

At Cavo Spada, a traditional Turkish bath known as a hamam is waiting for you, along with its companion Scandinavian sauna, both of which will enhance your wellness and leave you feeling rejuvenated.

A hamam is an integral part of the centuries-old traditional bathing ritual associated with Ottoman and Middle Eastern cultures. At Cavo Spada, the wellness ceramic tiled hamam is a steam-filled room where you can feel relaxed and cleansed, either sitting or standing in the purifying, humid environment of 40°C to 50°C. Leaving the hamam you will feel your body glow and feel fully invigorated.

The cedar-wood-clad sauna room has an environment opposite to the hamam – being filled with dry heat ranging from 70°C to 100°C, with water drizzled from a wooden ladle onto hot stones on top of a stove. The evaporation of water into steam creates a hot and dry volume of air that induces sweating, muscle relaxation, and overall body relaxation, improving blood flow and potentially boosting your cardiovascular health.

Restaurants

Azzurro

What is conjured up in your mind seeing the words à la carte? A superior cooked and tasting kaleidoscope of fresh ingredients united into dishes fit for a king or a queen? Well, become royalty and savour the à la carte offerings of Cavo Spada’s Azzurro restaurant – a superior Mediterranean-Italian inspired gastronomy, creatively conceived by the brilliant (and pilot) Chef de Cuisine, Sifis Balomenakis.

Sifis explained how he fell in love with cooking from a young age, and his passion evolved into attending Crete’s Heraklion Culinary School, with an obligatory interlude of one and a half years in the Greek army.

His ingredient philosophy has always revolved around cooking with local, fresh ingredients that emphasise regional tastes and designing menus that hark back to both traditional and contemporary dishes. To start you salivating over Sifis’ delights, here is a brief taster of what you can experience: Pasta filled with pork and beef ragout, egg custard and yoghourt sauce; Squid with Romesco, Aioli, Frumenty and onion “Kalitsouni”; White Roe Dip, Zucchini and Marinated Anchovies (lactose and gluten-free); Gnocchi a la “Boureki” with Mizithra Cheese, Pumpkin, Spearmint and Zucchini; Shrimps with Baked Greek Cheese, Tomato, Onion, Peppers and Extra Virgin (Cretan) Olive Oil.

To follow these main courses are desserts to die for, and this melting into ecstasy with each mouthful applies to all of Sifis’ dishes. Eat his creations slowly and shut your eyes to block all distractions – then, you will easily identify each scrumptious ingredient and be blown away by the intensity of their flavour. Yum, yum!

Sifis’ restaurant is situated in a light-filled space, seamlessly integrated with the kitchen, allowing you to enjoy the whole symphony of chefs at work as they create your gastronomic experience. When you sit for an unforgettable meal between 19.30 and 23.30, look up and enjoy the modern design motif of four domes, the ceiling style borrowed from the Byzantines, who ruled Crete until they lost the island to the Venetians in 1205; the domes boost the ambient light, creating a thoroughly conducive environment to enjoy your chosen menu. Are you accustomed to being cooped up inside your house at meal times?

Go native and enjoy your gastronomic experience on the expansive Azzurro terrace, with seating arranged to maximise views of the spectacular hotel’s gigantic swimming pool, grounds and the Blue Flag beach panorama.

Arsenali

Let us start the day off with a hearty or calorie-counted breakfast in the buffet-style Arsenali Restaurant adjacent to the reception’s upside-down boat roof. There are so many ever-changing choices you can easily hope something will be available and it will be there. If not, have a word with the effervescent and extraordinarily welcoming Maître, Antonis, who will ensure your requirements are met and arrive at your table.

The Arsenali restaurant is your appointment for tasty and beautifully cooked food at lunch and dinner times, and here are some of the dishes you will find to whet your appetite:

Risotto with Gorgonzola and Pear (gluten-free); Sauteed Beef (lactose and gluten-free); Crème Bacon and Garlic; Frumenty with eggplants and feta cheese; Calamari with ginger, soya sauce and vegetables (lactose and gluten-free); Pork stew with leeks (lactose and gluten-free); Chicken with creamy tarragon sauce; Saithe with tomato, onion, parsley and olives
(lactose and gluten-free); Tabbouleh (lactose-free); Tzatziki – yoghourt, garlic, cucumber and olive oil (gluten-free); Borscht soup (gluten-free).

Add lots of fresh vegetables, dressings and local fruit, plus a fantastic range of naughty desserts for those who have a sweet tooth and calories to spare, plus many varieties of tasty bread loaves and rolls. And if at breakfast, you wonder why the Arsenali has French Président butter in their restaurants, it is because the production of cows’ milk butter in Crete is scarce. Since there are so many sheep on the island, they provide milk that is churned into rich, Staka clarified butter, used to thicken a variety of Cretan traditional dishes, such as Pilafi or Gamopilafo (wedding pilaf) – a creamy rice dish with one or a combination of lamb, beef, or chicken. Staka is also used to thicken delicious sauces, giving them an individual, nutty aroma and gorgeous texture.

Sea Line Beach Taverna

Do you love the sound of waves, surf, and a refreshing sea breeze? Of course you do, so sit, relax, and unwind in the open at the Sea Line Beach Taverna, savouring Mediterranean and traditional Cretan fare and, of course, sipping a home-grown, delicious Silva Psithiros wine – a wine that is equal to if not surpassing, other more well-known European offerings.

Exploring

Okay, you have successfully begun your beautiful tan on the hotel’s sunbeds, and now you want to explore the real Chanià, so what can you see and experience stepping outside of Cavo Spada’s world? The hotel can arrange your very own private tour of the area for a couple of hours or a whole day with their affable and knowledgeable driver-guide, Mr Takkis, who will introduce you to the delights of real Chanià – you will soak up the charm of the olive tree landscape and ancient villages. Meet with Vasilia, the most efficient and welcoming head of Guest Relations, who will look after every detail, including a plethora of other well-organised tours of Chanià and beyond.

Renting a car is easy, as your friendly and thoroughly efficient hotel reception staff will take care of every detail. Choose a hatchback, such as Citroën C3, for the day, and it is excellent value at (approx) 65 euros with every nut and bolt fully insured. Remember, Brits drive on the right!

And for the British who have brought their tea bags (and yes, they do!), there is a small but useful mini supermarket a short walk from the hotel, situated where the minor road from Cavo Spada meets the main PEO Kissamou Chanion road. Besides local produce and items to buy, it offers fresh milk for your in-room brews.

Fancy a local bus trip experience? Use the KTEL Chanion-Rethymnou S.A. bus company, which operates routes near the hotel – a bus stop is a short distance from the minimarket – with direct services from Chanià to Skoutelonas, running every 20 minutes.

To the west is the nearby village of Kolymvari or Kolymbari, an attractive, relaxed, and unpretentious fishing village with a tranquil harbour at the foot of the rugged Rodopou Peninsula, offering access to the historic Gonia Monastery. Enjoy menus featuring local seafood in the tavernas, which offer octopus and local ouzo distilled by the Chaniàn Braoudakis family in Vrisses, based on a traditional recipe that combines aniseed, fennel, and mastic.

The Monastery of Our Lady of Gonia, also known as the Monastery of Panagia Hodegetria, is an ancient Orthodox monastery dating back to the 9th century, having fantastic views overlooking the Gulf of Chanià. The buildings have seen considerable changes, having been rebuilt between 1618 and 1634 with Venetian architectural details. Unfortunately, the original stone structures suffered enormous damage from 17th-century Ottoman sieges and German shell fire during WW2. However, what you will experience today is a highly sympathetic rebuild with a museum that is a gem, beautifully designed with Byzantine artefacts, rare religious treasures, and a collection of ancient handwritten and supremely beautiful coloured manuscripts and books.

Moving east 22 kilometres from Cavo Spada, you arrive at the old town of Chanià. You will enter an enchanting ancient world framed by a sentinel and epic stone lighthouse that still protects an iconic Venetian quayside. This quayside boasts a backdrop of quintessential, pastel-painted 13th- to 17th-century buildings connected by a warren of charming, narrow,
winding alleyways filled with every shop imaginable, including many designer boutiques offering superb clothes and accessories. The layered influences of the Minoan, Byzantine, Venetian, and Ottoman empires shape the entire collection of fantastic architecture and history that you will see and photograph.

Step into vibrant marketplaces and long-established tavernas, hidden in the cooling shade of labyrinthine alleyways, serving traditional Cretan fare – a paradise for any food connoisseur. Try Adespoto – a genuine as-they-get taverna, beautifully situated in the street called Sifaka. Ask for Giorgos (say ‘Jaw Goes’), the affable owner – you will get a warm welcome and excellent Cretan fare.

Nature

Now for Nature! Ensure you experience the White Mountains or Lefka Ori – named white because of the snow covering their peaks. Reaching 2,453 metres, Pachnes, the highest peak, is blessed with snow until late spring or even early summer.

Do you like spectacular gorges? If so, you are spoiled for choice in Chanià; choose from the 10-mile-long famous Samaria Gorge set in stunning landscapes. If you have time, visit the Theriso, Agia Irini and Imbros Gorges, which offer peaceful hiking opportunities ranging from easy to those requiring a qualified guide.

There are a vast number of places, activities and experiences to enjoy in Chanià – try as many as you can.

So here we are – I have given you a soupçon (or, in Greek, μια πρόταση) of what makes the 5-star Cavo Spada and its sister Ele Villas tick and flourish – to whet your appetite for the best.

A place to find perfection.

Enjoy, relax and unwind at the very special Cavo Spada.

Unquestionably, you will want to stay at Cavo Spada, so take some time to explore the luxury rooms and facilities available here

Prices at Giannoulis Cavo Spada Luxury Sports and Leisure Resort start from 134€ (£111) per room, per night on a bed and breakfast basis, based on two people sharing a room. All-inclusive rates are also available from 193.50€ (£160) per night, based on two people sharing a room. For more information and to book, please go to Giannoulis Hotels, call +30
28240 22640 or email here

Written by Peter Sissons for Luxuria Lifestyle International 2025

Hotel photographs Copyright © Peter Sissons 2025 & Giannoulis Hotels & Resorts group 2025
Villa photograph Copyright © Giannoulis Hotels & Resorts group 2025

Want to know about Crete? Please see here